Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles More WSM/AR Questions

I read through the 3 pages in the last WSM thread, and I clicked the link to the site with the pics...and I'm hoping ya'll can help me wrap my brain around the concept a little better.

Is chambering for the WSM just a matter of using the bigger bolt, barrel extension and magazine (and opening up the ejection port)? Is a conventionally dimentioned Upper Receiver and Carrier used? What is the barrel diameter over the chamber? Has the bigger cartridge created more backthrust on the bolt? What's the life of a bolt? Buffer Spring rate the same?

Thanks in advance to ya'll for bringin' ol' pokey (me!) up to speed!

don't forget about the gas port size, gas tube length etc...

yes that too...but having read a few 300 Whisper threads, those trial and error deals are secondary concerns.

Oh yeah...is there a .473 bolt face available as well for something like the 6BR?

It's actually WSSM if you are talking AR-15.

The bolt, carrier, barrel extension, magazine and upper receiver are all different. The upper receiver fits and functions on an un-modified, standard mil-spec AR-15 lower receiver. Yes, you can be plinking with a M-4 upper and in 20 seconds be taking big-game with the same gun.

Dtech, Blammer threw out the bait to get me here... but it is you sir that is going to set an expensive hook in my checkbook <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Who?.........Me? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

well that is you job ain't it Dteck.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank you all for moving me along.

Dtech, do you make a similar set-up for a .473 rim? And could you address my questions about longevity and durability of the setup, particularly the bolt with the bigger WSSM's (thanks for the correction on that as well!)

I'm starting to salivate...

Thank you all for helping move me up knowledge ladder.

Dtech, do you make a setup for a .473 rim? Can you also address my questions about longevity and durability of your WSSM's (particularly the bolt/extensions) and barrel diameter over the chamber (having seen reports of AR barrels in both 223 and 300 whisper unzipping themselves, it is in my consciousness).

Thanks again for you indulgence. I am starting to salivate.

yep, he's got the slobbers, just after he shorts out his keyboard mike will "get the call" he's got another one hooked!
Its ok chris, your not the first one that had to have one of mike's rifles, mine is the best money I've spent in years!
RR

I'm curious as to how the upper recievers differ also? In what dimesions?

ChrisF, The barrel is basically 1" over the chamber. That has proven istelf not to be the weak-link. Destructive testing showed that the bottom of the carrier would fail long before the barrel extension, bolt or barrel.

roast, the receiver differs in several ways: 1) The bore, where the barrel extension is seated, is .050" larger than a standard receiver. 2) The ejection port is enlarged to allow the larger case to pass. 3) The brass-deflector is milled away.

Thank you Dtech.
.473 Rim?

Yes, the .473" bolt-face can and has been done on the WSSM bolt. It's not something I have persued but if the WSSM's ever slow down, I will probably build a 6 BR for myself.

Dtech,
Can you point me toward someone who has done and is doing the work (.473 bolt face). Are they bushing the WSSM bolt face and adapting an AR10 extractor?

thanks!! 6br sounds like a match round for sure too.

25wssm is still tempting.

If I could just snag a 7wsm or 300 wsm in the ar15 platform....

Jeff

Thanks Dtech,
Can you direct me to anyone that did/does the .473 conversion or more specifically a 6BR conversion? Does it take bushing the bolt face and adapting an AR10 extractor?

The .473 bolt-face I was refering to was off of the WSSM bolt for the AR-15, not the AR-10 bolt. The bolts were not bushed, they were machined for the smaller case-head. These bolts were made by Oly for some R&D they were doing with the BR line. They accidentally shipped me a couple of the BR bolts by mistake.

To my knowledge, I am the only dealer/distributor that Oly will sell the WSSM parts to. I don't think anyone else is working with them. Like I said, if the WSSM sales ever slow down, I will probably do some BR's, but for now, all I can do is build. No time for experimenting

Not so...I just heard from an AR builder friend that has been getting the parts no problemo. It's not his primary business...but he get's them...perhaps on his connections out there.

Not so...I just heard from an AR builder friend that has been getting the parts no problemo. It's not his primary business...but he get's them...perhaps on strength of his connections out there.

What waboutr the 270 WSM would that be a viable chambering? I am new to both the WSM's and the AR platform
I am planning my first build of a Varment 5.56 AR trying to decide on a 20 or 24 inch barrel have been looking at some of the other conversion uppers though 6.5 Grendal 50 Beowulf ect.

ChrisF. Have him check again. Oly did sell some parts for a while, had some problems and I was told that they have quit selling WSSM parts completely. In fact, I just had a gunsmith from down south find out the same thing. He had purchased two matched upper/lowers for a WSSM build. When he went back to get the bolts/barrels, he was told "No". He told me he tried everything but he could not get anymore parts. He sent the upper to me and had me finish it for him and provide the rest of the parts. If he is sill able to purchase WSSM parts, it is contrary to what I have been told and witnessed.

blinddog1, The WSM is too long for the magazine on an AR-15. If I could figure a way to make one fit........I would be a rich man.

whooo-wey me and mikes gonna be rich!

RR

RR, try and put a 5.56 mag back in it though......... That's what I was talking about.

near as I can tell mike, the magwells interchange, I think. but would this be feasable? a 7WSM on an AR-15 even if you had to designate a lower for the AR-10 mag length AR-15 uppers?
would the pressures be too much for the oly wssm bolts? would the 7 wsm have more bolt thrust?
RR

Dtech what about the ar10 .308? is that longer? I was told you couldn't build an AR 15 and put an AR10 upper on it because they don't fit

The AR-10 is bigger, heavier, longer and more expensive. You can not mix the uppers/lowers.